Chapter 21
In this chapter, Jesus
warns his followers about the fall of Jerusalem, but the chapter begins with
yet another of my favorite childhood stories.
My daddy had to explain what a widow was and why it was so important to
understand that she gave all the money she had … even though it was very little
money. He explained that her gift was
more important because it was all she had.
I was probably five years old.
Going through this Gospel has really made me reminisce about all the
people who helped raise me in church!
Mother and Daddy did a great job teaching us and teaching other
children, too … but I had some wonderful Sunday School teachers. I distinctly remember a teacher showing us
two pennies in a little basket that we passed for our offering. She told the story explaining the importance
of the widow’s gift.
Jesus talked about how
the temple was going to be destroyed and how Jerusalem would fall. Of course, nobody wanted to hear that, so
they asked Jesus when this would happen.
He further described that many false messiahs would come and claim to be
Jesus. He warned his followers not to be
fooled by them and not to follow them.
He told them that all the wars and earthquakes and famines would come
and would be frightening, but that they had to happen. Jesus wept for Jerusalem because He knew what
was going to happen, even though it would be another 40 years before the city
was destroyed.
Jesus told them that
there would be signs of His second coming and he shared the parable of the fig
tree, using it as an example. The tree
buds and summer is near. Fruit is
coming. He said that in the same way,
signs would predict the second coming.
Jesus is in Jerusalem,
knowing exactly what is going to happen to Him.
He is trying to prepare His followers in the best possible way. His instructions were simple. Be prayerful and be ready, always.
My take-away from this
chapter is also simple. Always be
ready! In old age, my dad would make me
so angry when he would say he was ready … that he had more on the other side
than he had on earth. I couldn’t imagine life without him and I
couldn’t imagine that he really felt that way.
Now that I am an orphan child and all the people who loved me
unconditionally are on the other side, I understand! I’m far from ready, though! I have lots to do.
Let’s Cook!
This has become one of my favorite wintertime recipes!
Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients:
4 cups cubed raw
butternut squash
2 Tablespoons orange
infused canola oil
1 orange
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black
pepper
Place the squash on a
heavy baking sheet. Drizzle the oil over the squash and sprinkle with
salt and pepper. Slice the orange and lay it over the squash. Roast
at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until the squash is tender and slightly brown
on the edges. Remove from the oven immediately and serve warm or at room
temperature. Olive oil may be used instead of canola oil and if you
don’t have orange infused oil, squeeze the juice and sprinkle the zest of an
orange over the squash before roasting.
